NEW YORK (USA) – Leading the Nepali delegation to the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, PM Oli made this appeal during the World Leaders Forum at Columbia University on Monday.

He emphasized that the national aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis’ aims to eradicate poverty and ensure that everyone can live with dignity.

In his keynote address on ‘Nepal’s Journey of Democracy and Economic Development,’ PM Oli pointed out that while there is data on students and youths leaving Nepal, there is a lack of information on those returning.

Highlighting government initiatives like small-scale industries and ‘startups’ to boost employment, he urged the youth to play a vital role in nation-building, stressing that the country’s transformation depends on them.

“Nepal’s economic situation is not very weak. In fact, I see great potential for prosperity, which we can achieve quickly if we work hard,” he remarked, adding, “We are a rising democracy, strategically located between economic powers like India and China. This positions Nepal to become a multi-dimensional economy driving economic development.”

PM Oli also mentioned his commitment to good governance and transparency, leading a government backed by two major parliamentary parties that have played pivotal roles in Nepal’s democratic movement.

“We are fully committed to making Nepalis prosperous and happy, and to our journey of prosperity,” he stated.

During the ‘Lead Free Future: Partnership Launch and Pledging Event’ organized by USAID and UNICEF, PM Oli expressed solidarity with the campaign to eliminate lead use, acknowledging its harmful effects on children’s health. He noted that Nepal has adopted policies to phase out lead use and recently introduced a bill on food security in parliament.

Other speakers at the event included US First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, the President of Dominica, and the President of Malawi.